Behind the scenes: The Gulf states' move to prevent war with Iran

Gulf states are advancing a diplomatic plan to prevent war between the US and Iran, including the removal of sanctions in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz and arrangements in Yemen. Iran has agreed to shorten the timeframe for opening the strait from four days, but refuses to allow nuclear inspectors back.

Gulf states are promoting a broad diplomatic initiative to prevent another round of fighting between the United States and Iran, amid regional fears of renewed war and its security and economic consequences, as reported by the British newspaper The Guardian. At the center of the talks is an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within four days of the removal of economic sanctions, a shift from the previous position demanding seven days. Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, expressed willingness to shorten the timeframe. The US administration is updated on the talks but awaits further concessions, with European diplomats assessing that a key condition for a breakthrough will be Tehran's agreement to allow UN inspectors back to the nuclear facilities that were attacked. Meanwhile, a senior delegation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan arrived in Tehran to discuss Saudi conditions for ending the conflict in Yemen and formulating a long-term security arrangement. Iran seeks to expand the discussions to a vision for a new regional security arrangement that would include reducing the American presence in the Middle East and formulating a non-aggression pact with the Gulf states.